Heavy rains not quenching NMB thirst

GQEBERHA - Nelson Mandela Bay residents are seeing the silver lining of storm clouds.

Despite torrential rain leading to severe flooding in Nelson Mandela Bay, it's welcome relief for a region gripped by drought for the last eight years.

READ: Eastern Cape floods | Residents endure sewage spills, power cuts

But the metro is not out of the woods yet.

Dam levels have only increased to 17 percent.

Farmers are now being asked to use water sparingly.

READ: Dams get drier as NMB thirst worsens

"We have weathered an eight-year drought, it is the strictest drought in NMB to date so we are thankful for the rain we have received, our dam levels have gone up from about 13 percent to 17 percent," said mayor Retief Odendaal.

"We are not out of the woods yet, we have got a small reprieve but we have to work very spaciously with our available resources."                                            

* eNCA's Ronald Masinda reports.